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NEW DVELOPMENTS IN PURCELL CASE.

Another man has come forward to say that he met Richard Purcell in a well known gay haunt.

He is willing to swear an affidavit to the effect.

The previous witnesses have been a diocesan priest and a former Maynooth seminarian.

Anyone wishing to make an affidavit will be put in touch with a notary who is willing to act “pro bono” – without charge.

Any affidavit will be reviewed by a senior barrister.

This is because these lay lawyers love the Church and want it cleaned.

The other aspect is that the maker of the affidavit can remain anonymous and only known to the notary.

Purcell

This issue is not about gay people or gay sex.

Ot it about the hypocrisy of a man with solemn vows and with a senior position in the Church being a total hypocrite.

It also calls into question both the faith and the spirituality of the individual.

Such a person is totally unsuitable to guide souls.

CONTACT

Robert Hourigan

robert.h.k@outlook.com

Bishop Pat

bishopbuckley1@putlook.com

07488 374364

LETTER TO ABBOT GENERAL THIS MORNING

Dear Eamon,

I am very disappointed that you and your council appear to have done nothing with regard Richard Purcell.

A number of us have now engaged the services of civil and canon lawyers and intend to bring a case to the Roman authorities.

We do this regretfully and would have preferred the order to have handled it internally.

Sincerely yours,

+ Pat Buckley

Sent from Outlook Email App for Android

TEXTS – ROBERT HOURIGAN AND ROMAN ROTA CANON LAWYER

COUNTRIES WHERE BLOG WAS READ YESTERDAY

10,395 readers

103 replies on “NEW DVELOPMENTS IN PURCELL CASE.”

You’re doing a disservice to Ireland by talking about Scotland can you park it for a couple of days there are 365 of them in the year. Let’s deal with Mellary for the time being if that’s ok with you and Scotland

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@10:41 old news. He’s not saying mass or parading around conducting visitations and he’s a brother although he was a father many decades ago

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An ex-maynooth sem in the bolierhouse?
Did he attend while he was a seminarian?
Did he “encounter” the Dom personally?
Did he give permission?
Which diocese is the sem from?
Has the sem been tested for sti/hiv?
Has Dom Purcell been tested for sti/hiv?
did he put the sem at risk?
So many questions.

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There is plenty of people who are willing to swear an affidavit if it means that they get their way about something. I know of at least one person that done so, going on the evidence of another person. They in turn swore that they saw what they said but they didn’t.

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Pat, I often wonder if you ever think about the consequences on individuals in your chasing their life story in an attempt to spur them to renewal or to point out their moral hypocrisy and sinfulness (which we all possess) or simply to humiliate them. While I agree that truth is essential for everyone and that high standards must be lived by clerics, I cannot agree with this relentless pursuit of the Mt. Mellary monk. I recall a particularly difficult moment in my life when I reached a deep spiritual and mental abyss. I thought then of suicide and planned it in my mind. If I was presently in this monk’s shoes, I think I would be at the edge of a cliff. I am not condoning any alleged abuse or moral carelessness but I cannot accept this onslaught on individuals. It goes totally against my Christian, gospel beliefs. I presume the accusations by now are known and I presume too that the Abbey authorities are reflecting on all of this. They are not answerable to you. It is to their own conscience, moral integrity and before God that they are held accountable: if sexual abuse of vulnerable or young people, the civil authorities must be informed. There is a sense in which a certain rejoicing is taking place with this “heads on a plate” approach. I find this to be utterly un Christ like. You may be right but I am uncomfortable with the threats and allegations being made against others. Tomorrow I have to communicate an administrative, difficult decision to someone and I hope I will carry out my task with some decency and kindness with this particular person. I will not crush the person.

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It’s easy don’t abuse children, don’t be predatory towards adults, don’t download illegal porn, don’t take a vow you have no intention of keeping and don’t blame other people because you are sexually frustrated and can’t get a grip of yourself. The rest of the non clerical world copes, take responsibility for yourself

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Purcell is crushing himself. He and his superiors need to be seen to act in some way to what has been alleged – stepping back, and an investigation, is the usual way forward. Doing nothing just brings the focus on him and them even more. However, what I sense is that Purcell is not crushed, he is being arrogant and dismissive of what is being alleged, and is determined to tough it out. Any difficulty that arises from that is his responsibility. All I ask for is that the OCSOs just do the right thing, given the weight of allegations surrounding Purcell. I think then we could have some confidence that they are dealing with this matter in order to address it in a fair, just and respectful way. But, until I see that happening, i will keep calling for ti to happen and keep the focus on Purcell and the OCSOs.

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Lol @ 11:21.
The fact you call what you have to communicate an administrative decision shows you divorce yourself from the reason for and nature of the decision.
Otherwise – are you for real?
The only reason this blog takes the approach it does is that you and your ilk are unaccountable and accept no public interest in what happens in your church.
As it happens the public have had more than enough of this nonsense and so are taking the Christlike approach with any traders in the temple – of going in with a whip and seeing them off. Your understanding of what is Christlike is beyond limited by the way.
Clergy should be aware their morals particularly around sexual behaviour are of public interest and the days are gone when you could use your pious twaddle to cover up, which is what you’re actually expecting.
Get ready to have your own peccadilloes exposed here.

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And using genuine religious virtues of forgiveness and kindness to shield and excuse dangerous characters

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@11:21 what about all the priests who sat on committees and decided that seminarians should be asked to leave? What about their suicidal thoughts? What about priests who decided the fate of women? We’re talking here about hypocrisy and a predisposition unsuited for monastic life

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@12:21, totally valid points, but 11:21 shows his subconscious belief that priests should be let off and protected from valid criticism. The irony is that if Purcell were, say, a plumber, nobody would care about his visit to sauna.

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Maybe it’s because Cardinal Brady is still wandering around Ireland. I don’t think there is a red hat in Scotland either at the moment. I doubt when + Vin retires that there will be a cardinal’s hat for Westminster until Vin has died. He wouldn’t want to be overshadowed, even in retirement.

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12.30: Your subconscious bigotry and prejudice against clerics is very evident. You have allowed yourself to replay a repetituve narrative that all clerics are “at it”..A total lie. I have always unequivocally condemned the criminal behavhour of clerics. I was reared by parents whose moral values were unquestioned and they inculcated the same in their children. I follow a good moral compass.

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8.26am: So it would appear. The two witnesses must also have been in a gay sauna and gay bars. How else would they know? The two of them ought to watch their backs. This blog is not kind – even to supposed informants and friends…This whole approach stinks of hypocrisy and is totally dishonest, a charade dressed up as justice. The behaviour of the cast in this story is morally sickening. Winder how much the “lawyers” are being paid? Will they publish their names to allegations? If it is true that lawyers are involved in this stiry, that’s disgusting and utterly repugnant. Anyone can make up a lie…

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I have been in gay pubs, often in clerical dress. I was there generally because I was with someone who wanted to go there. I don’t like gay pubs. I have never been in a gay sauna.

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Why aren’t you pursuing your alledged witnesses, Pat, and not just Purcell? Aren’t these ‘witnesses’ as guilty as Purcell and therefore hypocrites?
It must seem odd to have hypocrites as witnesses.

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I don’t think that I need affidavits to assure me that there is something oddly out of balance about Abbot Purcell’s life. I hope, though I doubt, that the private conversations that are going on between Purcell and his superiors and community about what is being reported, are honest and open. I am bemused that nothing seems to have been done to distance him from his public activities, without prejudice, in the light of what is being alleged. It seems as though the tried and tested play book is in use in the OCSO, which is to keep quiet, say nothing, coverup, deny, even lie, in the hope that this will all blow over. But, see what is happening. Their intransigence and arrogance is refusing to deal with this matter in the first place now sees it moved on to a more formal and legal stage where affidavits are forthcoming, thus cementing the issue of Purcell in to some more formal process. I would suggest to the OCSO superiors and others that they quickly suspend Purcell from his duties and undertake an open and transparent investigation to ascertain whether he has been behaving in the way that is being alleged, which would be totally contradictory to his public profession. Whilst he may not have committed a crime, he has undermined his own integrity and trust in him, and that diminishes considerably his capacity to carry out his duties. They really need to do something PDQ otherwise this matter will steamroll them all.

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Why is Purcell the subject of so much interest at the moment ? His behaviour has not been criminal, and whatever activities he is alleged to have undertaken seem to have been consensual. I suppose the only thing that might be a bit questionable is the suggestion that he is in to al fresco sex, which has the potential to outrage public morality, with the risk that if caught by the police in flagrante you could end up in court ! But, there does not appear to be anything here that is going to land Purcell in a police cell or court. The issue at stake here is his publicly professed status as a monk and a priest with a vow of chastity and a promise of celibacy. Taken in conjunction with his public status as abbot and priest / presider / religious leader, all this means that he has a responsibility to ensure that his private life and actions accord with his public profession. To do otherwise is to undermine all his is and all he does in his public role. It diminishes and trust in him and undermines his integrity. Trust and integrity are essential for the role that he wishes to carry out. Without those he is an empty vessel. So, this matter needs to be addressed quickly, not so much because he needs to be punished or brought to account, but because he no longer has the confidence to carry on in his role. For him to continue willy nilly as if nothing has happened is an insult to us. This matter must be sorted out quickly.

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The issue as stake here is that many seminarians were shown the door for much less and many junior monks ditto. The issue here is hypocrisy. The Abbot General told Pat the Cistercians hoped the Roscrea incident was a one off. It wasn’t.

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If it makes the headlines they will act, if not they will do nothing. The monasteries are dying most of the monks are elderly.

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Agreed, if they were going to investigate they would have asked them to step aside while the investigation was completed. I would also point out that in Richard’s case he has not broken any laws.

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I’m not sure the fact that he has not broken any laws is really relevant in this case. It is a question of whether someone who is alleged to have behaved as he is supposed to have done is a fit and proper person to continue in a capacity of leadership and public ministry. At least until such time as a proper investigation has been carried out and a conclusion arrived at. At this moment, the correct thing to do is for him to step aside, and investigation to be initiated, and then a conclusion to be arrived at. Forgiveness, reconciliation, a new start can happen at that point. Until they do that they are just putting two fingers up to us. My response to that is to ratchet up the exposure until such time as they are forced to act in a way which would happen in any other business, organisation or institution.

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Stepping aside pending investigation is the correct thing to do. They are lying low and hoping it will all blow over. Is anyone outside Pat’s blog interested in this? I think not.

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10.58
As a member of the moral police, you’d get a job without any bother in Saudi Arabia.
Are you equally concerned about the adultery and fornication which is happening in myriad cases all around you?
You would wish your remit would also extend to the domain of the thought police.
It would be most informative and entertaining to have a bright light shone on your intimate connections.

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Ask Aelred and drain the bloody swamp Richard confided in friends and could never hold his drink but did he need drink?

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No just the hypocrisy law. What about the hundreds of seminarians and priests asked to leave For being gay or acting out impulses?

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Wondering how many of the sexual vigilantes here do exactly the same things of which they so zealously accuse the monk–and think nothing of it?

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You were discussed Pat when Sir Matt Baggot former Chief Constable PSNi went to meet the Vatican Police. It was called the Santa Marta grouo in 2007. It stinks and they were out to get you

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Santa Marta Group has nothing to do with Pat, it’s a church initiative for churches and law enforcement to partner against Human Trafficking!!!

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Why is anyone shocked by now. Haven’t you been reading the papers for the past thirty plus years.
The default position when dealing with any RC cleric should be to assume that he is corrupt, dishonest and will try to defraud you of money or have sex with you.
The so-called good ones are volitionally ignoring the reality.

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Is Charlie Brown among them? If the accounts of him in Angela Hanley’s book are accurate, he’d merit a full post here.

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11.46am.
Yes rcc is very dangerous and they were quite silent in mother and baby case. They didn’t interfere with it as they let FFG govt get on with it.
Agree with this re Purcell should go as his nocturnal activities isn’t compatible with his public status as an abbot and also religious leader as well.
I wouldn’t want to see Purcell to bersmirch the reputation of Mt Melleray.

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1.01: Pat, did you inform the Abbot General that you were pursuing the story on your blog and that you intended to keep in pursuance in whatever way possible until you found the truth? Just wondering if you were open and honest with the Abbot?

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The daily diary of the majority of clergy or just those I know?
Been a busy day for me so far. Got up at 8, had breakfast, skimmed morning prayer, went through the motions at Mass and then watched porn. Had lunch, a nice bottle of expensive red and now time for socially distant sykpe sex with one of my regulars. Will have a few hours nap now and then time for dinner, more alcohol, sex, bed and then start again tomorrow.

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I detect a sense that people fear that there are dark forces in the Church that could cause people harm. Get real, please ! These people no longer have any teeth. Yes, they used to rule us and could have significant impact on our lives, by guilt, by exclusion, by isolation, by ostracisation etc. But those days have gone. Unless you let them do that to you. We have for a long time seen through these people, and we know what they have been about, and we no longer are prepared to put up with it. iI’s not just an active opposition, it’s got to the stage where we just don’t take any notice of them now, no matter what they say or do. They are irrelevant to most of our lives. They many not realise it and puff themselves up with their own self importance and issue portentous mutterings, but we just don’t listen. We just shrug and say, ‘And ?..” The best way to put these emasculated forces in their place is just to treat them with the distain they deserve and ignore them, and get on with your life as you want to lead it, rather than being directed by people who have lost our trust, who are duplicitous, live parallel lives, are deceitful, lie, and generally as despicable.

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It seems to me that Mr. Hourigan has difficulty with anyone who is gay, particularly priests and understandably so. Perhaps he might like to let us know his true feelings about gay people, including his opinion of Pat. I think if he is pursuing someone on an allegation of sexual misdemeanours, he equally condemns such in all who are gay. I wonder if he will condemn gay doctors, lawyers, teachers, bisexual married men, etc……Aren’t all public professionals expected to uphold moral values?

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Having spoken to Robert Hourigan extensively he betrays no homophobia whatever.

His main concern us for Mount Mellary.

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2.07: Let Mr. Hourigan tell us his views. You are defending him and I’m sure you didn’t ask him his personal views. I am only asking because there is something suspicious about his motives. Mr. Hourigan is acting on serious allegations and he must assure us that he can stand over and validate them. That’s a principle of justice and integrity.

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2.07: If Mr. Hourigan’s main concern is for Mt. Mellary, is he aware of the small number of monks and the age profile? Does he have a huge list of prospective candidates or perhaps he is he hoping to transport the good Remnant of Silverstream to take up residence!! Step up Mr. Hourigan… I am a little suspect of your motivations. Have you spoken with any member of Mt. Mellary?

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2.07: If Mr. Hourigan is really concerned about Mt. Mellary, he had better get a group of concerned lay people together to plan for the future. The number of monks is small and of an older age group. Does the honourable Hourigan believe he is contributing to the health and well being of these men by engaging in so self righteous a manner? I consider your behaviour as bullying and harrassment. Go to Larne if you want the “perfect” church…

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In the midst of all this angst, I only have to think of Littlemaniple for some diversion…..what a service he performs for us….

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I see Fr L pretty much every day on Balham High Street. Bit out of place, really, poor thing.

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10:59 – Nope. Sorry to disappoint. But post your phone number and I’ll get in touch. I like a blind date !

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There is no Abbot in Roscrea and Abbot Richard is still it’s Abbot until it installs one. Perhaps Mr Hourigan should raise the Abbot General’s inaction with Roscrea or with its alumni association which invite Abbot Richard to various events if its website available online is anything to go by. Who is the patron of the school? Fr Aelred was in Roscrea and had his ear to the ground. Was Fr Aelred interviewed by the Abbot General. If not, why not?

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Fr. Aelred will be called in good time. Dom Malachy Thompson is the superior at Mount St. Joseph. Purcell his NOT the abbot of that house, and has no day-to-day jurisdiction.
Constitution 39, The Election of an Abbot, at para. 6, we read: “The election is confirmed by the Abbot General. Each re-election requires a new confirmation by the Abbot General”.
The Abbot General, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, appears to be aware of the “issues” concerning Purcell at Roscrea. Thus, why did he confirm the election of Purcell as abbot of Mount Melleray? Thus, who else knew at Roscrea about Purcell? The cover-up of Purcell’s behaviour is not good for the school. Was he moved to save the school damage to its reputation? Time will tell all.

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@1:43PM
“Aren’t all public professionals expected to uphold moral values?”
No, they are not. They uphold the ethical/professional standards of their profession, and where possible; they aim NOT bring the profession into disrepute. When they do; it is normative for an independent and impartial investigation to be convened. Depending on the findings of the investigation; a disciplinary hearing may occur, and the individual may be ejected from the profession, eg, medical, legal, veterinary, dental.
@2:18PM
People are speaking, and affidavits are being prepared. We would welcome the commencement of legal proceedings before the High Court. We are also not given to hubris. A senior counsel in Dublin with a connection to Mount Melleray is acting pro bono; he is scandalised by Purcell. We would welcome the opportunity to have Bishop Monaghan subjected to cross-examination by leading counsel, along with a few others. Have no doubt; we are ready. But, we would prefer if Purcell did the honourable thing, and resigned for the greater good of the Church and the Abbey.
@2:17
For the avoidance of any and all doubt, I have no issues with anybody who is homosexual. However, I loathe hypocrisy. And, it has become increasingly clear that Richard Purcell has led a life (for some time) that is significantly at variance with his publicly professed monastic vows. His hypocrisy as a monk and priest is wholly unacceptable. If, Richard Purcell, wishes to leave monastic life and renounce the oblations of the clerical state and follow his inclinations that is fine by me; but, he cannot and should not do so as a monk, priest and abbot of a Cistercian Abbey.
The age profile of the community is a legitimate and significant concern. But, it will have absolutely no hope if Richard Purcell continues as Abbot and Ordinary. He should resign, forthwith.
Please God, absolutely nobody from Silverstream will end-up at Mount Melleray.

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If the Church acts otherwise than in accordance with its own laws the civil courts can take jurisdiction.

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By Post Author

I can see High Court proceedings and the intervention of the Charity Regulator in the case of Silverstream, however it does nbot appear that Richard Purcell has broken any law?

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5.00

But as your father used to say (paraphrasing), he who comes to civil court had better come with clean hands. Not to mention pots of money.

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Reading the post and the comments today it is apparent why the Irish Cistercians have got into the state they have.

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The Magic word is hypocrisy. If these guys were as interested in God as they are in the theology of the willy. Shower of fequin hypocrites hi

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Many years ago when I was in a religious community – which I enjoyed immensely – one of the last things we did at night was to reflect on our faults and sins of the day. It was a very worthwhile exercise as it made you aware how easy it is to forget your own bad or wrongful actions and how easily we hurt others. Long years after leaving the community to study for priesthood I continue this practice. It is still a good thing to do. It keeps my readiness to be or feel superior in check. Today I have commented on this blog either to ask relevant questions or to pass negative, judgmental and probably hurtful comments. At the night time “looking back on my day” I will be honest before God and beg his mercy for my many imperfections. Sometimes we are very blind to our own sinfulness while catapulting merciless stones of judgment at others. It is useful for all of us to search our own conscience and heart and be truly honest before God. Just a thought.

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9.12: You should try the nightly examen of your behaviour and conscience…Perhaps the truth frightens you. It doesn’t frighten me, you idiot.

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Pat, I find all what you have to say about Abbot Richard Purcell hard to believe. If you have contacted Bishop Phonsie as you claim you have done, I firmly believe that in 2020 he would have asked Abbot Purcell to step aside so the claims can be investigated. I know that in the past when such claims were made a Bishop moved on a priest, but in 2020 when such claims are made, I doubt any bishop would not act. I know for a fact when an claim was made against a Priest in the Waterford and Lismore Diocese a few years back, After Bishop William Lee had stepped down and before Bishop Phonsie was appointed, Mgr Nicholas O’Mahony who was the care-taker of the diocese he had a priest step down and he did not resume ministry until a claim was deemed false.

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@8:28. You do well to reflect like this. But sure you don’t really need to be “honest before” God. Doesn’t he, the great Eye in the Sky already know it all, even your thoughts: …….if this wonderful “Pie in the Sky” really exists that is.
It’s perfectly possible mind you to reflect on our actions without reference to the great Sky Fairy.
MMM

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